finally resuming work on this, doing another detail pass which has only really covered the front. But the flight deck is now modelled, and there's some additional detail on the back you can't see here. I also added in vectored maneuvering engines to the front, and a small landing bay in the back of the command tower (also interior-modelled, as with the flight decks)

The 'button-type' things are the primary maneuvering thrusters (which are... frankly quite immense. They are larger than many small ships) - reason being that this huge ship is built around a massive spinal mounted weapons system, and thus requires them to swing the ship around to face its target. Its also got an array of 6 on top, 4 on the other side and 6 on the bottom, and that's just the front.

Is there a reason that the Commonwealth is not becoming involved with this instead of the Ringers? The Ranx, initially, were simply displeased with the CW's failure to protect them against the Neo-humans, and the rebels' ideals seem to be a government that, while not as idealistic and quite a bit more militaristic, follows a similar democratic - republican pattern to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Fleet, facing a lack of support from the homefront, weary and war - worn personnel tired of being attacked by virtually everything that moves, a shortage of Rins(and thus the ability to purchase arms and fuel from the Ringers), and an inability to effectively fight the newly produced Phobos dreadnought, would likely feel quite nervous about the possibility of a ship capable of attacking them at a range even greater than the Ares can, and possibly open to weakening their alliance with the Ringers should it mean a new source of fuel and some peace. There's also the fact that the Commonwealth soldiers know full well that life as a Commonwealth citizen in the Outer Realms is dangerous, thankless, and terrifying, and many would feel sympathy for people abandoned by their homeland.

With regard to the Ringers, wasn't there some lore in the past implying they don't use ships? Economically, at least, there seems to be little reason for them to build ships. The Commonwealth comes to them when it needs to trade, as do the Ferians, and their guards(presumably Commonwealth mercenaries), coupled with their ion lancers, are capable of killing anything that may threaten them, up to and including the Phobos dreadnought.

Maybe it is because CW's forces are stretched to far and thin for any help. They can barely defend against pirates in their most protected systems, relying on Korolov. And with the Ares stomping the Commonwealth, well...

StealthX051 wrote:Maybe it is because CW's forces are stretched to far and thin for any help. They can barely defend against pirates in their most protected systems, relying on Korolov. And with the Ares stomping the Commonwealth, well...

Precisely why there would be incentive to look for peace on one front of the war and a possible ally. There's also the fact that the Ranx ores seem to be contributing to the Ares military industry, and intervening could slow the production of the devastatingly powerful and thus far un-countered Phobos - class.